Take the first step towards getting into your dream school.

The University of South Dakota

Students Say

With an honors program that is “the best-kept secret in the country” and professors who are “nearly always willing to go the extra mile for students,” the University of South Dakota offers a “great student to faculty communicative experience at a reasonable price.” Numerous departments garner praise from students, and the University boasts winners “almost every year for big scholarships like the Goldwater and Truman, competing with big, Ivy League, private colleges that charge quadruple the amount for the same education.”

Test Scores

Other Admission Factors

Overall

Students Say

With an honors program that is “the best-kept secret in the country” and professors who are “nearly always willing to go the extra mile for students,” the University of South Dakota offers a “great student to faculty communicative experience at a reasonable price.” Numerous departments garner praise from students, and the University boasts winners “almost every year for big scholarships like the Goldwater and Truman, competing with big, Ivy League, private colleges that charge quadruple the amount for the same education.” While the nursing school is the most frequently praised, the “business, biology, premed, law, and psychology classes are very solid,” and the “dental hygiene, music, and journalism schools” also stand out, with the most copious laurels heaped on the music department’s professors who are “some of the best.” All told, the wide selection of quality academics “gives students many options as far as majors go,” and for students willing to throw themselves into their studies “the odds of getting into a professional or graduate program are good.”

Dates

Financial Aid Rating

86

Application Deadlines

Notification Date

Mar 1

Required Forms

FAFSA

Bang For Your Buck

The University of South Dakota offers a “great student to faculty communicative experience at a reasonable price.” “The perfect fit for students looking for a smart educational investment.” For students willing to throw themselves into their studies “the odds of getting into a professional or graduate program are good.” Annually, USD awards scholarships to more than 800 first-year students; very impressive, with a total enrollment of only 6,000 students. “The people are extremely welcoming and if I had to go back a year and look at colleges without financial limits, I would have still chosen USD.”

Overall

Students Say

A typical USD student “would be a conservative Midwesterner. He or she would be Caucasian” and would most likely have originated in “small towns in South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.” “Many people join a Greek system or are athletes or musicians. Those who do not fit into these three main groups seem to focus on their academics” and “[fit] in fine with the majority because of the open mindedness of most students.” For example, “gay students are able to get along with the rest of student population.” There’s no denying that “partying is a definite part of the culture, though many of the ‘smart’ kids both party and work hard.” Student organizations call out to many, and “it seems like every person on campus is part of at least one of them. It is a great way to meet new people and [to participate in] activities.”

Student Body Profile

Total Undergraduate Enrollment

7,541

Out of State

33%

International

2%

Foreign Countries Represented

46

Demographics

1.68%

American Indian or Alaskan Native

1.39%

Asian

2.56%

African-American

2.99%

Hispanic

88.34%

Caucasian

1.57%

International

63%female

37%male

33%are out of state

65%are full time

35%are part time

Overview

Students Say

“We work hard, so we can play hard,” sums up the undergraduate philosophy at USD. “Although there is a lot of partying that happens, the students keep themselves occupied with school work, intramural sports, and hanging out with their friends.” Vermillion’s small size seems to be a double-edged sword; some insist that “the size of the town means no one is more than a 10-minute walk/bike ride away!” and that “since it is a smaller campus students have more opportunities to be involved in internships and various other activities.” But the fact remains that “many of the upperclassmen live in the larger cities to the north and south.” In general, “students have to make their own fun, which often involves partying or taking small road trips to other cities in the area.” For those planning to roam further afield, “Vermillion is located very close to Yankton, Sioux City (IA), and Sioux Falls (all within an hour). They are bigger cities and offer everything a person would want to do (shopping, movies, entertainment).”

Campus Life

Undergrads living on campus

33%

Help finding off-campus housing

Yes

Quality of life rating

71

First-Year Students living on campus

90%

Campus Environment

Village

Fire safety rating

94

Housing Options

Apartment Married
Apartment Single
Disabled Student

Dorms Coed
Frat Sorority
Other

Special Needs Admissions

Program / Service Name

Disablity Services, Center for Disabilities, USD

Type of Program

For all students with disabilities

Director

Ernetta L. Fox

College Entrance Tests Required

Yes

Interview Required

No

Special Need Services Offered

Calculator allowed in exams

Yes

Dictionary allowed in exams

Yes

Computer allowed in exams

Yes

Spellchecker allowed in exams

Yes

Extended test time

Yes

Scribes

Yes

Proctors

Yes

Oral exams

Yes

Notetakers

Yes

Distraction-free environment

Yes

Accommodation for students with ADHD

No

Reading machine

Yes

Other assistive technology

Yes

Student Activities

Registered Student Organizations

144

Number of Honor Societies

6

Number of Social Sororities

3

Number of Religious Organizations

6

20%join a fraternity

12%join a sorority

Sports

Athletic Division

Division I

Men's Sports (Coyotes)

8 Sports

Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Swimming
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor

Student Services

Day Care
Health

LGBT Support Groups: The University has a 10% Society that holds educational and informational meetings for all students. In addition, they sponsor social get togethers. The 10% Society meets for chats where resources, books, movies, music, etc will be shared.

Minority Support Groups: The University has 10 support groups related to minorities, a financial aid specialist for minorities, a Native American Cultural Center and a Native American Cultural adviser.

Army ROTC Offered on-campus

Sustainability

Green Rating

68

Campus Security Report

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: http://ope.ed.gov/security